Segmented Nasal Insert for Respiratory Interface Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory interfaces for treating sleep apnea and other respiratory issues often face challenges in providing effective oxygen delivery due to anatomical obstructions and discomfort, leading to inadequate oxygen flow and patient compliance issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of nasal prongs with weight-reducing structures, flanges, and valves that form a seal within the nostrils, along with adjustable designs and energy harvesting capabilities, to improve airflow and patient comfort, while also evaluating compliance through color-changing indicators or sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional respiratory interfaces are used to deliver oxygen, then oxygen delivery is provided, but resistance to airflow increases and patient comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal insert is divided into multiple channels (first channel, second channel, third channel) that segment the airflow path. This segmentation allows oxygen to be delivered through multiple separate pathways, reducing overall resistance while maintaining effective oxygen delivery to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the nasal insert have different structural characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The first channel has a first cross-sectional area, the second channel has a second cross-sectional area, and the third channel has a third cross-sectional area. This local variation in geometry optimizes airflow characteristics in different regions, reducing resistance while maintaining effective oxygen delivery.
2Reliability
If nasal inserts are positioned within nasal passages to treat respiratory issues, then respiratory support is provided, but patient comfort and compliance decrease due to discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal insert incorporates flexible components including a flexible diaphragm and elastomeric materials that can conform to the patient's nasal anatomy. This flexibility reduces discomfort while maintaining the reliability of respiratory support by adapting to individual patient variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements such as a flexible diaphragm that can move in response to patient breathing patterns. This dynamic behavior allows the device to adapt to changing respiratory conditions, maintaining effective treatment while improving comfort and patient compliance.
3Quantity of substance
If respiratory interfaces apply positive pressure to the throat, then adequate oxygen flow is permitted, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal insert is designed to be self-positioning within the nasal passage, utilizing the patient's own anatomy to achieve proper placement and sealing. This self-service approach reduces the complexity of the device while maintaining adequate oxygen flow, as the device automatically adapts to the patient's nasal structure without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to respiratory interfaces for use in treating various respiratory issues including, but not limited to, sleep disorder breathing (e.g. snoring, sleep apnea), and in other forms of assisted and unassisted respiration. Embodiments disclosed herein further relate to nasal prongs, flanges and valves for use with respiratory interfaces. Embodiments disclosed herein further relate to evaluating patient compliance with a respiratory interface and harvesting energy for the respiratory.